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Hundreds mourn 3 children killed in Philadelphia carjacking; funeral to be held today

An investigator examines a heavily damaged SUV before it is towed from the scene of a fatal accident in North Philadelphia, Friday July 25, 2014. Two children were killed and three people critically injured when a hijacked car lost control and hit a group of people near a fruit stand, according to police. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

A woman looks on as investigators examine a heavily damaged SUV before it is towed from the scene of a fatal accident in North Philadelphia, Friday July 25, 2014. Two children were killed and three people critically injured when a hijacked car lost control and hit a group of people near a fruit stand, according to police. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

In this undated photo combination provided by the Philadelphia Police Department, 19-year-old Johnathan Rosa, left, and 23-year-old Cornelius Crawford are shown. The two men are accused of carjacking a woman and plowing into a family selling fruit on a street corner, killing three children. Court documents show that the two were arraigned early Tuesday, July 29, 2014, on charges including murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, robbery, aggravated assault and sexual assault. (AP Photo/Philadelphia Police Department)

Richard Starchia pays his respects Monday, July 28, 2014, at a makeshift memorial for three children who were killed Friday by a hijacked car that lost control and hit a group of people in Philadelphia. Police investigators are talking to two people in connection with the search for two carjackers who rammed a stolen sport utility vehicle into a family in north Philadelphia, killing three children. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

PHILADELPHIA | Hundreds of people gathered at a rally and vigil Tuesday evening on the grassy lot where three children were killed by a carjacked SUV that veered out of control in Philadelphia last week.

Cassandra Alexander, a relative who spoke on behalf of the family, described their anguish and bewilderment.

'Our hearts are broken. We can't believe this is our new reality: a nightmare with no end,' she told the crowd.

Their mother, Keisha Williams, 34, was still in critical condition in a medically induced coma at Temple University Hospital, said another relative, Antonio Moore, who attended the rally.

The children and their mother were at the corner selling fruit to raise money for a neighborhood playground.

The 45-year-old woman whose car was stolen during the carjacking was also injured in the crash, as was another woman selling fruit, Thelma Brown, 69.

Alexander said a funeral for the children had been set for 11 a.m. Monday, and she thanked the North Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church. 'Pray for our family,' she said, mentioning the children's two surviving sisters.

Moore thanked former Philadelphia 76ers star Charles Barkley for offering to pay for the funeral.

Jonathan Rosa, 19, and Cornelius Crawford, 24, were charged with second-degree murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and related offenses. They were arraigned and were being held without bail Tuesday.

Police said Rosa and Crawford approached the 45-year-old woman, a real estate agent, Friday morning, forced their way into her Toyota 4Runner by implying they had a weapon, and sexually assaulted her.

The men drove the 4Runner north at high speeds and lost control at the corner of Germantown and Allegheny, police said. The SUV jumped the curb and careered into the fruit stand.

Police launched a manhunt to find the two suspects, receiving help from witnesses who flooded the department with tips. Neighbors and local businesses sent in video footage of the area, and police said several witnesses were able to identify Rosa and Crawford once they were taken into custody.

Rosa turned himself in Sunday night. Crawford was found hiding in a shed behind a building the same night and was taken into custody. Both men gave statements to homicide detectives, police said.

The crowd assembled for Tuesday's rally spilled into the streets, which were shut down by police.